The History and Current State of Myanmar

Myanmar is a sovereign nation in South East Asia surrounded by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. It is the 40th largest country in the world and the second largest in South East Asia. Myanmar originally named Burma has seen centuries of fighting and control changes. The earliest known cultures were the Tibetan-Burmese speaking Pyu in the North and the Mon in lower Burma. Myanmar has a population of more than 60 million people, which makes it the 24th most populated country in the world.

Outside of sparse residential tribes, the first known civilization and homesteading of this country was in the 9th century AD. The Burmas from the Kingdom of Nanzhao entered the upper Irrawaddy valley establishing the Pagan Empire around the year 1050 A.D. The people’s domination of this land established a solid community belonging to the Burmas. The Pagan Empire dominated this area until the Mongol invasions from 1277-1301. The dominant religion of this country until the Mongol invasions was Theravada Buddhism. Burma became a ravaged collection of warring societies after the invasions, with no real dominant culture having sway over the area. In the second half of the 16th Century, the country loosely unified under the Taungoo Dynasty. During this period, the country became the largest empire in South East Asia. During the 19th Century, the Konbaung Dynasty gained control of Burma. The country saw a brief time of success until the invasion of British Soldiers, which led to the Anglo-Burmese Wars. The British ultimately conquered Burma and it became a colony of the British Empire until its independence in 1948. Initially Burma adopted a constitution and became a Democratic nation until a military coup in 1962, in which the...

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...ously undefined or under defined. Although a democratic society by name, Myanmar still sees most of its control coming from the military where they hold the highest posts in the newly elected government. Those individuals seem to be the immediate route to economic and military ties. Ensuring that our support goes to the right people is paramount. With recent international relations coming under strain, it is clear that a light approach to this country and much research remains prior to full commitment.

Although new by design, a nation has only begun and all aspects are subject to destruction and vacuums within its borders are possible. There are several areas of interest that conflict with our ideal and Burma lives with them as fact and resolve. Myanmar has a major role to play in international relations with many countries, both local and internationally.